Here is a brief look at the modern origin of the Dianic Witchcraft Tradition

Starhawk's New Moon Chant to Diana: "Waxing, waxing, growing, growing, the power of Diana, flows, flows."

Growth, in the mid-20th century, of pagan paths was strongly supported by the feminist movement, causing a rapid escalation in interest and numbers.

The 1950s, marked a 100 years campaign for women's rights and the accompanying refusal to be treated by society as second class citizens. Women were asserting their rights and finding their voices. They were spontaneous, non-violent, pro-earth, and pro-woman. Spiritually, the mainstream support for hierarchical patriarchal world religions had begun to wane.

Gardner's "Witchcraft Today, " published in 1951, resulted in additional increased awareness of witchcraft. The principle of a Goddess, whose consort is the God, appealed to the majority of pagans, offering a respite from the patriarchate of the major religions. Still, some feminists were unwilling to accept any form of masculinity on their spiritual way. For them, "the Goddess grew in importance and the role of God fell into the darkness.

This however was not the birth of Dianic Witchcraft Tradition in its modern sense. Unbeknownst to many, and unrecognized by most, an Egyptologist, folklorist and anthropologist named Margaret Murray (1863-1963) should be credited with the early formation of the Dianic Tradition.

Murray published "The Witch-Cult In Western Europe: A Study in Anthropology
" in 1921. In this study, she examined Inquisition documents and argued that witchcraft could be traced to the pre-Christian era and seemed to be the ancient religion of Western Europe. She went on to provide evidence that Diana, the Roman feminine goddess was revered across Europe in "Dianic cults."

Murray later published "The God of Witches, " in 1933 and" The Divine King of England" in 1954, which stated that most of the British royal family were members of the Dianic Cult. Murray died at age 100 in 1963, the same year her autobiography was released, "My First Hundred Years." Murray was a close friend of Gerald Gardner.

Dianic Tradition, as it stands today, is covered by two schools of thought. One is called Dianic Feminist or Dianic Witchcraft, for spirituality of women and the other is Danaanic Wicca or "Old Dianic" paganism. Both traditions come from the seeds sown by the works of Margaret Murray.

The Dianic Witchcraft branch is believed to have been founded by a hereditary witch named Z. Budapest. Z and three of her women friends established Susan B. Anthony Coven Number 1. This sect worshiped the Goddess in all its forms. Z. Budapest 's Dianic witchcraft are women-only covens. There is a strong presence of lesbians, although most of the guilds are open to all women.

The Danaanic Branch was founded by Morgan McFarland. This branch "gives primacy to the Goddess in their theology, but honors God as her beloved consort Cacho. Covens can be composed of part men and women members or only a single genus.

About the Author: Rose Ariadne has been practicing ancient forms of Witchcraft for over 25 years. Get more info about the history and tradition of Dianic Witchcraft here:
http://www.askroseariadne.com/editorials/dianic-witchcraft-the-history.html

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Dianic Witchcraft: The History and the Tradition

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